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About the Artist

Madeleine loves to paint. Painting slows time. It expands awareness and presence. It is an act of noticing and appreciating.
For the artist, painting is a way to contemplate creation ~ its beauty, simplicity and wonder ~ its complexity, contradictions and mystery.

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Looking
    Deeply

Madeleine is curious and guided by time spent in nature, meditation and relationships. She is continually exploring life through introspection, conversation, ceremony, reading, history, cross cultural perspectives and travel. Her art reflects on a broad range of perspectives - from appreciating what is at our feet, to contemplating inter-species and inter-cultural relationships across time and space. Her work is evolving and leans towards uncovering harmony and what connects us; while not shying away from the suffering, disconnection and confusion of our modern world. 


She fell in love with oil painting in 2001 while studying her BFA in Vancouver, Canada. Much of her adult life has been dedicated to music, the earth and teaching. She has released 8 self-produced albums, multiple music videos, singles and collaborative music under the artist name "Bachan Kaur". She has recently returned to painting the past several years and deepening into her practice again.  


VIEW CV

  • Spotify
  • Apple Music
  • Youtube
  • Tidal
  • Instagram
  • Soundcloud
Image of artist Madeleine hiking and laughing by the ocean
Madeleine Painting as a child

More about Madeleine's Personal Story . . .

"Since I was tiny, you could often find me painting, drawing, or whirling in circles in my backyard singing songs. Alongside constant creativity, my life has been woven with the thread of deep appreciation and curiosity for our relationship with Mother Nature. As a young adult, my dedication to contribute harmoniously with our planet, guided me towards several paths. I traveled and explored living off-grid in eco-communities, working on organic farms, studying permaculture, and eventually enrolling in University studies for “Land and food systems”. However, two things happened along the way that eventually led me in another direction. The first is that I noticed that even in paradise, humans could still be confused and cruel. I felt that it wasn’t Nature that needed our help, rather it is the humans that are suffering. This awakened a dedication to devoting my energy towards being part of healing the human heart and consciousness (and I later dedicated much of my adult life to meditation, yoga, prayer and sacred music - you can check out my music as “Bachan Kaur” on any streaming platform or on my website www.bachanmusic.com) During my agricultural and environmental studies at university, I noticed the second thing. I came most alive in my “elective” course, art class! I realized…who am I kidding? I may love nature with all my heart and want to make a difference…but I am an artist ◡̈ This prompted me to switch my program into a Bachelor of Fine Arts, where my love affair with painting really took root and came to life. After diving deeply into painting and having multiple sell out painting exhibitions (mostly large format oil paintings), I shifted my creative energy into another love - music. Music brought together my desire to connect to creativity in a way that directly impacted the human heart, healing and changed the vibration of myself and those around me. I also loved that music had so little environmental impact. It could travel, without matter, beyond time and space, reaching hearts around the world with a click. Music became my muse, and I dedicated my soul to her for almost 20 years. I traveled the world, lived out of a suitcase, shared in the hospitality of others, while recording multiple albums and planting gardens of love through sonic prayer, healing and celebration. Within the past 5 years, I’ve felt that wave subside and my heart and hands have been filled with a deep longing to spend my creative energy exploring my original love of colour and painting. The simplicity, lightness and ecological ease of watercolours, were a great fit with my nomadic lifestyle. Now, just like in my early permaculture days and eco-cd creation practices, I am committed to share art in the most ecologically responsible way possible. The 3D nature of visual art certainly has revealed the complexities of creating physical products that have a regenerative and circular life in the world. It’s far from perfect…but that is what you see here… An imperfect attempt to integrate creativity harmoniously in our world. To amplify beauty through art, music and more, in a way that somehow gives back more that it takes. To plant more flowers than I pick."

image of Madeleine's watercolour painting palettes

CV

Madeleine Deming Sullivan
Born in 1981 Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Resides and works between Vancouver Island, Canada and Tepoztlán, México


EDUCATION

2015 - 2016    Secondary Art Teaching Degree, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC
2014 - 2016    MAED - Masters in Art Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC
2001 - 2006    BFA - Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
2011               Permaculture Design Certification, Roberts Creek, BC


SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2011          Sacred Union, Public mural, Phoenix, AZ
2010          Painting exhibit, Gorilla Foods, Vancouver,BC
2009          The Spaces in Between, Gumboot Cafe, Roberts Creek, BC
2008          Tides of the Heart, Gumboot Cafe, Roberts Creek, BC
2007          Play of Light, Aphrodite's, Vancouver, BC
2006          Light Art,  Ayurveda, Vancouver, BC
                  For/ Toward (UBC Grad Exhibition), Tinseltown, Vancouver
2004          Taking the Indoors Out, Seva, Vancouver, BC


ARTISTIC WORKS

PUBLICATIONS

2021         Two Drops, Illustrated Children’s Book

MUSIC RELEASES
 

2023          Ardas Prem, music album
                  Bhand Jameeai, single
                  Thoon Mera Pita thoon Hai Mera Mataa, single
2022          Friends we Don’t Often See, music album
                 Pequeño Gran Corazón, collaborative single with Lagartijeando
2021          Abuelita, single
2021          Many Moons (Mose & Binder re-mix), collaborative single
2019          Troubles of Mind, single
2018          Crimson, single
2016          Many Moons, music album
2015          Magdalena Mariposa,  music album
2014          Japji, single
2011          MADA Love, music EP
2008          Anahat, music album
                 Illumine*nation, music album
2006          Soul Songs, music album
2004          Angels in the Amrit, music album

VIDEO PRODUCTION

2022            Rainbow Jesus, music video
                    When Things Fall Apart, music video
2019            Many Moons, music video
                    Troubles of Mind, music video
2018            Beauty and the Beast, music video
                    Danza de la Luna, music video
2016            Your Water, music video
                    Temple Heart, music video
2015            Luz del Bosque, music video
2013 /14     Mi Voz, Community Music project, Mexico
2012            Music Sound, video


COLLECTIONS

Over 50 paintings held by private collectors in Canada, Mexico and USA


RESIDENCIES

2026  A Position on Retreat Artist Residency, one month, Lake Cowichan, BC
2023  Can Serrat Artist Residency, 2 weeks, Montserrat, Spain
2023  Self-directed Artist Residency & Botanical Studies, one month, Crete, Greece

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2017 - present     Learning Consultant, SelfDesign Learning Foundation, BC
2013 - 2016       Creativity Facilitator - private and workshops, Canada, USA
2008 - 2018       Sacred music facilitator, concerts and workshops, Canada, USA, Guatemala  and Mexico
2001 - 2018        Yoga & meditation Teacher, Canada, USA, Mexico

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